Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks is a beautifully written memoir about her reaction to the sudden death, in May of 2019, of her husband of thirty plus years, Tony Horwitz. In common with nearly everyone facing the loss of a spouse – especially when death is sudden and unexpected – Brooks was overwhelmed with the many “to dos” that happen when a life and partnership end. Unlike most people, she was also caught up in the book tour for her hugely successful novel, Horse. To process her grief and think about her life with Tony, three years later, she spent time alone on a remote island off the coast of Australia and wrote this book. Memorial Days is a welcome addition to classics of the genre such as The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. But it is more than a grief memoir because Brooks contemplates the ways other cultures grieve while considering what rituals might help her cope with Tony’s death. She also thinks about and describes some practical suggestions for more humane ways of communicating with and tending to bereaved people. What Brooks did not do was dispel the notion that one surmounts grief or “gets over” a loss of this magnitude. Nor did she completely avoid the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross stages of grief. Given her selection of an island on the seacoast, I wish she had considered the tidal like nature of grief – it comes and goes to varying degrees, but it never ends.

Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Beautiful and short memoir about Geraldine's husband who died unexpectedly in 2019. She switches back in forth in time between immediately after his death and then when she purposely takes the time to grieve several years later. Very moving story with what I think is some good advice regarding planning for a significant other who is left behind, as well as modeling what sort of grieving process worked for her. This book really speaks to me and is very moving.

In May of 2019 Brooks’ beloved husband, Tony Horwitz, died suddenly of a heart attack. In February of 2023, Brooks traveled to a remote dwelling on Flinders Island, part of the State of Tasmania, Australia, to honor his memory and to give herself the time and space to finally process her grief. In this beautifully written memoire, Brooks shares the intimate story of her love and loss and pays tribute to the man who was her world.

Geraldine Brooks s one of the better writers of our time. While writing the award winning book Horse, she unexpectedly lost her husband, partner and best friend. This book lays bare the details of the depth of her grief and loneliness after losing her husband Tony. She also shares the details of what she, and many like her, went through navigating the immediate days after a loved one’s depth. For someone as educated and worldly she was woefully unprepared. She points out steps that we, the reader, should take in our own lives to protect ourselves from the same chaos.
The back story of her husband Tony Horowitz was rich. We got to know this Pulitzer winning journalist, historical author, outgoing friend and loving husband. They traveled the world together reporting on countries in upheaval. They raised a family in Martha’s Vineyard and Geraldine takes us with her back to Australia as she tries to heal. A beautiful memoir. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Viking Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. These opinions are my own.